As Fires Subside, Some Closures Lifted

s of Sept. 19, some local areas that have been closed due to fire are back open. The Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District lifted the closures for the South Sister Climber, Moraine Lakes Trail East of the South Sister Climber Trail, Soda Creek and Green Lakes Trails, as the Nash Fire—while still active—shrinks.

Areas south of the Cascade Lakes Highway in the Three Sisters Wilderness are still closed as of Sept. 19. All evacuation orders in Lane and Deschutes counties have been lifted.

As of the morning of Sept. 19, fires in the area included the Olallie Lookout Fire at 1,572 acres; the Roney Fire at 3,548 acres; the Avenue Fire at 2,962 acres; the Separation Fire at 17,747 acres and the Nash Fire at 6,738 acres. While rain Monday and Tuesday helped douse the fires, crews also report that flash floods and wet conditions still make it hard for firefighters working in the field. The same is true for crews working the Eagle Creek fire in the Columbia River Gorge; while rain has helped douse the fire, falling rock and falling trees bring other hazards.

This article appears in Sep 20-27, 2017.